Yalla Habibi

Should couples follow society’s expectations about money, or decide for themselves what financial equality looks like?

In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we explore money in relationships, conflicting social expectations, financial compatibility, and why couples need to find an approach to finances that works for them.

We’re joined by Lauren Thorpe, financial educator and founder of Learning Money, to discuss how couples can navigate different beliefs about money, overcome judgement, and build a financially healthy relationship. Lauren also shares practical money saving tips, spending hacks, and advice for families looking to enjoy life without breaking the bank.

In This Episode:

• Why society holds conflicting expectations about money in relationships
• Whether financial equality is a universal rule or a personal choice
• How couples can navigate different beliefs and financial values
• Why frequent arguments about money can put relationships at risk
• How to manage finances together without losing financial independence
• Practical money saving tips and spending hacks for couples• How families can enjoy fun weekends with children on a budget
• Whether disagreements about money mean couples are incompatible
• Ten controversial money and relationship opinions in

On the Record

We also put Lauren in the hot seat in On the Record, where she faces quickfire agree or disagree questions about financial equality and some of the most controversial opinions on money in relationships. Watch to find out what the expert thinks about the questions everyone has an opinion on.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction 👋

03:55 Is There a RIGHT Way to Handle Money as a Couple? 🤔

06:32 Why Society Gets Couples’ Money WRONG! 💰

08:50 Are You the Money Talker or the Money Avoider?! 💰 

11:15 How to Handle Money When You DISAGREE! 💥

13:20 Can a Relationship Survive Different Money Beliefs?! 💔

16:13 The Mindset Shift That Changes EVERYTHING! 🧠

19:10 Simple Money Hacks Couples NEED to Know! 💸

25:25 How to Have Fun With Kids Without Going BROKE! 👨‍👩‍👧

29:10 Are We Getting Money WRONG as a Couple?! 👀

30:48 On The Record 🎤

36:02 Conclusion 💡

37:44 Recommended Episodes 🎧

38:23 Outro 👋

Recommended Episodes

📺 S4: My Money, Your Money or Our Money?

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lauren Thorpe

Get in contact with our guest here.

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningmoneylauren/

🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learningmoneylauren

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/learningmoneylauren/

Press and Media

📰 Reuters - How loud budgeting is helping Gen Z set financial boundaries

🔗https://www.reuters.com/markets/on-the-money/how-loud-budgeting-is-helping-gen-z-set-financial-boundaries-2026-07-08/

📰 Mirror - Millions of Brits are scared of investing - but most are already doing it

🔗https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/millions-brits-scared-investing-most-37061826

📰MSN - 'Backwards shopping' hack helps me save £5,000 a year

🔗https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/backwards-shopping-hack-helps-me-save-5-000-a-year/ar-AA1V9ExZ

Discount Codes:

Airalo

An eSIM service that lets you get mobile data while travelling without needing a physical SIM card.

🏷️ Airalo: SCOTR7127

🏷️ Airalo: SHELBY5873

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Starling Bank

A digital UK bank offering easy money management and fee-free card spending abroad.

🏷️ Starling: LBL0M2D

🔗https://www.starlingbank.com/

About Yalla Habibi Podcast:

Yalla Habibi — Let’s go, my friend!

We talk about relationships, life, travel, social expectations, personal experiences, and the things couples often think about but don’t always talk about.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. It really helps us reach more people and bring interesting guests onto the show.

Follow Yalla Habibi:

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yallahabibipodcast?lang=en⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/yallahabibipodcast/⁠⁠⁠

Why is saying no so difficult, even when you know it’s the right thing for you?

In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we’re joined by psychology coach Breanne Felicella, founder of Diary of a People Pleaser, to explore people pleasing, healthy boundaries, self worth and the pressure to meet society’s expectations in relationships.

We put our five social rules under the microscope, from attending weddings and splitting the bill to staying until the end, drinking alcohol and dancing. Together, we explore the difference between people pleasing, personal preferences and setting boundaries, why saying no can lead to confrontation, and how to handle friends and family who struggle to accept your choices.

In This Episode:

• The difference between people pleasing, personal preferences and boundaries

• Why we struggle to say no without feeling guilty

• How social expectations influence our relationships

• Why people can react badly when you start setting boundaries

• Building self worth without relying on other people’s approval

• How to set boundaries with friends and family

• Knowing when a relationship is no longer healthy

• Whether we’re wrong to challenge society’s social rules as a couple

We also put Breanne in the hot seat in On the Record, where she faces quickfire agree or disagree questions about relationship boundaries, people pleasing, social expectations and when it’s time to say no.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

02:26 – How would you define the difference between people pleasing, boundaries and preferences?

04:30 – With those differences clear, where do each of our five social rules fall?

09:52 – Why do you think we struggle so much to tell the difference between people pleasing, boundaries and preferences, especially when someone suddenly starts saying no?

12:27 – Do we naturally develop stronger boundaries as we get older, or do you find people have to learn them through bad experiences?

16:15 – How do you set boundaries with someone who won’t let it go, and when do you decide the relationship is no longer healthy?

20:00 - One Piece of Advice Breanne Gives Her Clients to Build Self-Worth 

21:37 – Do you think we’re wrong to go against any of these five expectations? If so, why?

24:12 – On The Record

28:16 – Conclusion

29:52 –  Recommended Episodes 

30:38 –  Outro

Recommended Episodes

📺 S3: The Social Rules We Stopped Following as a Couple

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Breanne Felicella

Get in contact with our guest here.

🔗 Diary Of A People Pleaser: https://diaryofapeoplepleaser.com/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diaryofapeoplepleaser_/?hl=en-gb

🔗 LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/breanne-felicella-578b39256

Discount Codes:

Airalo

An eSIM service that lets you get mobile data while travelling without needing a physical SIM card.

🏷️ Airalo: SCOTR7127

🏷️ Airalo: SHELBY5873

🔗https://www.airalo.com/

Starling Bank

A digital UK bank offering easy money management and fee-free card spending abroad.

🏷️ Starling: LBL0M2D

🔗https://www.starlingbank.com/

About Yalla Habibi Podcast:

Yalla Habibi — Let’s go, my friend!

We talk about relationships, life, travel, social expectations, personal experiences, and the things couples often think about but don’t always talk about.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. It really helps us reach more people and bring interesting guests onto the show.

Follow Yalla Habibi:

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yallahabibipodcast?lang=en⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/yallahabibipodcast/⁠⁠

Tagspeople pleasing,setting boundaries,healthy boundaries,people pleasing,Yalla Habibi,Yalla Habibi Podcast

How can couples manage money fairly when everyone has a different opinion on how relationships should work?

In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about financial equality in relationships, managing money as a couple, communication, and why social expectations shouldn't determine how couples handle their finances.

We share how we make financial equality work in our relationship, from tracking shared expenses and resolving disagreements to challenging traditional expectations around money, and what other couples can take from our experience to build a happier, more balanced relationship.

In This Episode:

• How we make financial equality work as a couple
• Why communication is important when managing money
• How we track shared expenses and keep each other accountable
• Dealing with financial disagreements in relationships
• Why couples should question traditional financial expectations
• How family, culture and society influence financial decisions
• Setting healthy financial boundaries with your partner
• Finding a financial approach that works for your relationship

We also explore financial independence in Scott’s WTF of the Week — including research revealing that 56% of British adults have savings set aside in case their relationship ends.

And in Shelby’s Good Vibes Only, we look at why Gen Z is embracing cheaper, more creative dates and challenging the idea that romance has to come with an expensive price tag.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

01:34 – Why 50% of People Would Rather Use the Toilet Than Ask for Money 

03:50 – How We Make Financial Equality Work

10:16 – What Can Other Couples Learn?

14:41 – Scott’s WTF of the Week: 30 Million Brits Are Saving for a Breakup

18:34 – Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: Gen Z Is Making Cheap Dates Romantic Again

20:47 – Conclusion

21:46 – Cliffhanger

22:16 –  Recommended Episodes 

22:39 –  Outro

Recommended Episodes

📺 S4: My Money, Your Money or Our Money?

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 S3: The Social Rules We Stopped Following as a Couple

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stories Shared:

💔 ⁠Scott's WTF of the Week – 30 Million Brits Are Saving for a Breakup

🔗https://www.novuna.co.uk/news-and-insights/personal-finance/love-actually-comes-with-a-back-up-plan-30m-brits-saving-for-a-break-up/

🥰 Shelby’s Good Vibes Only – Gen Z Is Making Cheap Dates Romantic Again

🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/news/2026/06/08/coffee-dates-fuel-britains-new-low-cost-high-frequency-dating-economy-with-single-brits-spending-over-2k-a-year/

Discount Codes:

Airalo

An eSIM service that lets you get mobile data while travelling without needing a physical SIM card.

🏷️ Airalo: SCOTR7127

🏷️ Airalo: SHELBY5873

🔗https://www.airalo.com/

Starling Bank

A digital UK bank offering easy money management and fee-free card spending abroad.

🏷️ Starling: LBL0M2D

🔗https://www.starlingbank.com/

About Yalla Habibi Podcast:

Yalla Habibi — Let’s go, my friend!

We talk about relationships, life, travel, social expectations, personal experiences, and the things couples often think about but don’t always talk about.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. It really helps us reach more people and bring interesting guests onto the show.

Follow Yalla Habibi:

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yallahabibipodcast?lang=en⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/yallahabibipodcast/⁠

Tags

money in relationships,finances in relationships,financial equality in relationships,couples finances,expectations,social norms,financial pressure in relationships,healthy relationships,couples podcast,relationship podcast,Yalla Habibi,Yalla Habibi Podcast

Is splitting everything 50/50 really the fairest way to manage money in a relationship?

In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about splitting finances as a couple, financial equality, money disagreements, and the challenges of managing shared expenses while keeping personal finances separate.

We share the challenges of splitting everything evenly, dealing with judgement from family and friends, deciding what counts as a shared expense, and why financial independence, trust and freedom make the extra effort worthwhile.

In This Episode:

• The challenges of splitting expenses 50/50 as a couple
• Dealing with judgement over who pays for dates and days out
• How we track and manage shared expenses
• Deciding what counts as a joint or personal expense
• Why big purchases like houses and cars complicate financial equality
• The benefits of keeping personal finances separate
• How financial independence can reduce resentment and money disagreements
• Why fairness looks different in every relationship

We also explore how couples split household bills in Scott’s WTF of the Week, including surprising YouGov research showing that only a third of couples split expenses 50/50 when one partner earns more.

And in Shelby’s Good Vibes Only, we look at research suggesting that couples with similar motivations around money may have greater relationship satisfaction, even when those financial habits aren't always positive.
Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:30 – How Do We Know When Traditions Are Good or Bad?03:26 - Series Recap04:11 – The Challenge: Why Is Breaking the Money Rules So Hard?13:30 – The Reward: What Going Against the Grain Gave Us17:23 – Scott’s WTF of the Week: Why Only 33% of Couples Split Bills 50/5020:45 – Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: Research Links Financial Compatibility to Relationship Satisfaction 22:40 – Conclusion23:41 – Cliffhanger24:05 – Recommended Episodes 24:27 – Outro

Recommended Episodes

📺 S4: My Money, Your Money or Our Money?

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 S3: The Social Rules We Stopped Following as a Couple

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stories Shared:

💸 ⁠Scott's WTF of the Week – Why Only 33% of Couples Split Bills 50/50

🔗https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/50381-what-is-the-fairest-way-for-couples-to-split-household-bills?

❤️ Shelby’s Good Vibes Only – Research Links Financial Compatibility to Relationship Satisfaction 

🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12539

Discount Codes:AiraloAn eSIM service that lets you get mobile data while travelling without needing a physical SIM card.🏷️ Airalo: SCOTR7127🏷️ Airalo: SHELBY5873 🔗https://www.airalo.com/Starling BankA digital UK bank offering easy money management and fee-free card spending abroad.🏷️ Starling: LBL0M2D🔗https://www.starlingbank.com/About Yalla Habibi Podcast:Yalla Habibi — Let’s go, my friend! We talk about relationships, life, travel, social expectations, personal experiences, and the things couples often think about but don’t always talk about. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. It really helps us reach more people and bring interesting guests onto the show.Follow Yalla Habibi:TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yallahabibipodcast?lang=en⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/yallahabibipodcast/⁠

When it comes to relationships, should it be my money, your money or our money?

In this episode of the Yalla Habibi Podcast, we talk about money in relationships, financial equality, splitting expenses as a couple, and the conflicting expectations around who should pay.

We share how we manage our finances as a couple, why we pay evenly for shared expenses, what we keep financially separate, when we choose to pay for each other, and why we don’t believe being in a relationship makes you entitled to your partner’s money.

In This Episode:

• The conflicting financial expectations placed on couples
• Whether men should still be expected to pay more
• What financial equality actually means in a relationship•
• How we split bills and shared expenses as a couple
• Why we keep personal expenses separate
• How we decide what counts as a joint expense
• Why paying evenly doesn’t have to mean keeping score
• Building a financial system that feels fair to both partners

We also look at financial infidelity in Scott’s WTF of the Week, including research showing how many Brits have lied to their partner about money and secretly spent thousands without telling them.

And in Shelby’s Good Vibes Only, we explore research that followed 230 engaged or newlywed couples and found that couples who combined their finances maintained stronger relationship quality over two years.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction02:12 – Would Our Relationship Have Survived If Shelby Paid on the First Date? 03:38 – The Pressure For Men Have to Pay in Relationships06:22 – Society’s Financial Expectations in Relationships 13:28 – How We Manage Money as a Couple24:43 – What We’ve Learned About Couples’ Finances 25:40 – Scott’s WTF of the Week: The Secret Spending Problem31:05 – Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: Joint Finances, Stronger Relationships

Recommended Episodes

📺 S3: The Social Rules We Stopped Following as a Couple

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠

Stories Shared:🤫 ⁠Scott's WTF of the Week – The Secret Spending Problem🔗https://www.confused.com/press/releases/2026/almost-half-of-brits-admit-lying-to-their-partner-about-money💰 Shelby’s Good Vibes Only – Joint Finances, Stronger Relationships🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article/50/4/704/7077142?guestAccessKey=32d8dc66-db46-45ab-a360-57a401a01af9

Discount Codes:AiraloAn eSIM service that lets you get mobile data while travelling without needing a physical SIM card.🏷️ Airalo: SCOTR7127🏷️ Airalo: SHELBY5873 🔗https://www.airalo.com/Starling BankA digital UK bank offering easy money management and fee-free card spending abroad.🏷️ Starling: LBL0M2D🔗https://www.starlingbank.com/About Yalla Habibi Podcast:Yalla Habibi — Let’s go, my friend! We talk about relationships, life, travel, social expectations, personal experiences, and the things couples often think about but don’t always talk about. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. It really helps us reach more people and bring interesting guests onto the show.Follow Yalla Habibi:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yallahabibipodcast?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yallahabibipodcast/

Here’s your ultimate guide to the United Arab Emirates— a country that holds a special place in our hearts and is ultimately responsible for this podcast being called Yalla Habibi. We share the story behind the name, our first trips to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and a New Year’s experience we’ll never forget. In “Jet Lag Judgements” we unpack what Dubai hit us with from the moment we arrived and whether those famous first impressions lived up to the hype. “Vegan Voyagers” puts Dubai’s vegan scene to the test, from Middle Eastern classics to the all-important question of price, while in “Worth The Trip” we get into the highs, the frustrations, what you need to know before visiting, and whether the UAE deserves a place on your travel list.

Chapters

(01:39) – How the UAE Started Our Podcast

(03:43) – Our UAE New Year Story

(04:15) – Why the UAE Puts Families First

(06:00) – Did We Meet the Dubai Bling Cast?

(06:48) – Jet Lag Judgements: UAE

(09:47) – Vegan Voyagers: UAE

(18:01) – Worth The Trip: UAE

Recommended Episodes

🔍 Search for: Ultimate “COUNTRY” Travel Guide, and you will find all our country review episodes.

Here is our latest one:

🎧 Ultimate USA Travel Guide: What It’s Really Like & Is It Worth It | Yalla Habibi Podcast

Discount Codes

Airalo: SCOTR7127

Airalo: SHELBY5873

Vegan Voyagers

🍽️ Neat Burger (Lewis Hamilton): Sadly it’s been closed down

Most local cuisine restaurants can easily adapt their dishes to be vegan

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Transcript Keyword Summary

UAE Travel, United Arab Emirates, UAE Travel Guide, Dubai Travel, Dubai Travel Guide, Abu Dhabi Travel, Abu Dhabi Travel Guide, Things to Do in Dubai, Things to Do in Abu Dhabi, Dubai First Impressions, Dubai Holiday, Dubai Tourism, Vegan Food Dubai, Global Village Dubai, Yas Island, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Relationship Freedom in Modern Relationships, Couple Adventure Travel, Couples Challenging Relationship Expectations, Couples Following Their Own Path in Life, Yalla Habibi, Yalla Habibi Podcast, Couples Podcast, Relationship Podcast

Transcript Quotes

"The UAE is an interesting one for us because it has a very special place in our hearts, because it was actually the catalyst for our podcast being called Yalla Habibi."

"My first impressions were easily how kind and welcoming everyone was."

"It was mostly, I would say modifications than it was finding actual vegan restaurants."

"It's not the most walkable place. It's kind of similar to America in that way."

"It's not as expensive as I thought it would be."

"I think in the height of summer, that would be unbearable."

Here’s your ultimate guide to the USA— a country home to some of the most famous cities, iconic experiences and jaw-dropping natural wonders on Earth. From Hollywood and Las Vegas to New York, Yosemite and beyond, we look back at our travels across seven states and discuss how our relationship with America has changed from childhood visits that felt magical to seeing the country through very different eyes in our thirties. In “Jet Lag Judgements” we unpack how our first impressions of the USA have shifted over the years, while “Vegan Voyagers” puts the country’s plant-based scene to the test and “Worth The Trip” gives our honest verdict on whether America still lives up to the dream.

Chapters

(01:45) – Best Country Chants Debate

(06:53) – Scott’s Scary (But Funny) Plane Ride Into Utah 

(09:12) – Our Top 3 Spots

(11:04) – Jet Lag Judgements: USA

(16:10) – Vegan Voyagers: USA

(23:32) – Worth The Trip: USA

Recommended Episodes

🔍 Search for: Ultimate “COUNTRY” Travel Guide, and you will find all our country review episodes.

Here is our latest one:

🎧 ⁠Ultimate Mexico Travel Guide: What It’s Really Like & Is It Worth It | Yalla Habibi Podcast

Discount Codes

Airalo: SCOTR7127

Airalo: SHELBY5873

Vegan Voyagers

🍽️ Olive Garden🍽️ Blaze Pizza

Also look out for vegan smash burgers they are great!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Transcript Keyword SummaryUSA Travel Guide, USA Travel Tips, Is America Worth Visiting, USA Travel Costs, America Travel Guide, USA Travel Budget, Vegan Travel USA, Vegan Food USA, American Tipping Culture, ESTA Travel Guide, USA Road Trip, Best US National Parks, Best Cities in America, Disney World Florida, Grand Canyon Travel, American Dream Reality, Relationship Freedom in Modern Relationships, Couple Adventure Travel, Couples Challenging Relationship Expectations, Couples Following Their Own Path in Life, Yalla Habibi, Yalla Habibi Podcast, Couples Podcast, Relationship Podcast

Transcript Quotes

"There's just so much fun at your disposal." 

"It is actually quite different to the UK."

"The most expensive country I've been to."

"I think my excitement and love for it has gone down a little."

"If you can find a vegan smash burger, it's brilliant."

"I have a real special place in my heart for Albuquerque."

Five years together, countless adventures, a few questionable decisions and more than enough stories to fill an episode. We go back to where it all started, from our first date and the ultimatums that nearly ended things before they began, to the experiences that have tested us, changed us and ultimately brought us closer. We reflect on the decisions that have shaped our relationship, why we’ve never cared about Valentine’s Day, how travelling changed us as a couple, and what we’d tell the two people who met five years ago if we could do it all again.

Chapters

(03:06) – Our First Date & Ultimatums

(09:15) – How Travel Changed Our Relationship

(14:27) – Why We Don’t Celebrate Valentine’s

(19:40) – The Moments That Brought Us Closer

(22:43) – What We’d Tell Ourselves on Day One

Recommended Episodes

Look for titles starting with S1 or S2 to find other series across all podcast platforms.

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠⁠

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If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we ask you to please consider any or all of these: Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share and leave a short Review? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.

- "Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!"

Watch Our Shorts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Transcript Keyword Summary

Five Year Anniversary, Relationship Advice, Long Term Relationships, Healthy Relationships, Relationship Milestones, Dating App Success, Online Dating, Hinge Dating, Traveling As A Couple, Couples Who Travel Together, Relationship And Travel, Relationship Challenges, Relationship Compromise, Relationship Communication, Building A Lasting Relationship, Marriage Alternatives, Relationship Freedom in Modern Relationships, Couple Adventure Travel, Couples Challenging Relationship Expectations, Couples Following Their Own Path in Life, Yalla Habibi, Yalla Habibi Podcast, Couples Podcast, Relationship Podcast

Transcript Quotes

“Without us realising, it ended up being probably the best test we could have ever have done for our relationship.”

“There are sacrifices in relationships, and it's important they're acknowledged, but it's also important that they're made.”

“Just let yourself feel what you're feeling rather than trying to hide it.”

“I love that we met on a train.”

“We can tolerate time apart. We're not totally codependent. Only slightly.”

“Even just walking, to the bathroom was like running a marathon.”

We ask whether couples really need to agree on everything, and what happens when the way you live, socialise and set boundaries doesn’t fit what everyone else expects. Drawing on our own experience of going against five social norms, we share practical lessons on supporting each other, dealing with FOMO, recognising each other’s triggers and standing firm when people test our boundaries. We also explore why challenging the status quo can make people uncomfortable, and whether making a relationship work is less about agreeing on everything and more about building a life that works for the two people actually living it.

In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we uncover the bizarre phenomenon of “pluralistic ignorance” and why we sometimes do things simply because we think everyone else wants to, while “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” reveals a surprisingly reassuring reason you might be more comfortable saying no than you think.

Chapters

(05:23) – How We Challenge 5 Social Norms as a Couple

(19:38) – What Can Other Couples Take From This Series?

(25:06) – Would We Do It Again? 

(25:51) – Scott’s WTF of the Week: Are We All Just Pretending “Pluralistic Ignorance”

(31:45) – Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: Why Saying No Just Got Easier

Recommended Episodes

Look for titles starting with S1 or S2 to find other series across all podcast platforms.

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠

🎧⁠⁠ EP2⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠⁠EP1⁠⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠⁠EP2⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠⁠EP4⁠⁠

⁠

Stories Shared

Scott's WTF of the Week: 🤯 Are We All Just Pretending “Pluralistic Ignorance”

🔗Additional Reference

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: 🚫 Why Saying No Just Got Easier

🔗⁠Additional Reference⁠

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If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we ask you to please consider any or all of these: Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share and leave a short Review? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.

- "Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!"

Watch Our Shorts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Transcript Keyword SummaryRelationship Differences, Setting Boundaries, Social Norms, Relationship Boundaries, Healthy Relationships, Relationship Advice, Couple Communication, Dealing With FOMO, Fear of Missing Out, Saying No, People Pleasing, Social Pressure, Conformity, Relationship Conflict, Personal Boundaries, Being Yourself, Relationship Freedom in Modern Relationships, Couple Adventure Travel, Couples Challenging Relationship Expectations, Couples Following Their Own Path in Life, Yalla Habibi, Yalla Habibi Podcast, Couples Podcast, Relationship Podcast

Transcript Quotes

“I think it can be desirable to have a difference of opinion in certain situations.”

“It's about understanding what your boundaries are, what you enjoy, what your interests are, and then implementing that into your life.”

“You can give people time to adjust without giving up your boundaries.”

“Stop letting society, friends, and family dictate your choices when they're not fulfilling you and not making you happy.” 

“It's having each other's back when people test your boundaries as a couple.” 

“Before changing your behavior to fit in I would ask yourself, do people genuinely expect this from me, or have I just convinced myself they do?”

“They were significantly more understanding than people saying no expected them to be.”

We question what it really means to be “normal” and why going against social norms can be so difficult, from being judged for changing to feeling like the odd one out when your choices no longer fit other people’s expectations. We share how stepping away from certain pressures has given us more freedom, healthier boundaries, greater financial stability and less guilt about saying no, and why sometimes disappointing people is part of building a life that actually feels right for you. In “Scott’s WTF of the Week” we hear about a man who took rejecting society to an extreme, with consequences far beyond simply becoming a bit of a recluse, while “Shelby’s Good Vibes Only” celebrates a legendary artist who refused to change herself just to fit society’s idea of who she should be.

Chapters

(03:20) – What Makes Going Against Social Norms So Difficult?

(16:30) – What Has Going Against Social Norms Given Us?

(21:53) – Here’s What We Think

(23:00) – Scott’s WTF of the Week: 27 Years Alone in the Woods

(28:28) – Shelby’s Good Vibes Only: The Woman Who Refused to Conform

Recommended Episodes

Look for titles starting with S1 or S2 to find other series across all podcast platforms.

📺 Series 2: Finding The One When You're Not Everyone's Type

🎧 ⁠EP1⁠

🎧⁠ EP2⁠

🎧 ⁠EP3⁠

🎧 ⁠EP4⁠

📺 Series 1: Travelling as a Couple: Dream vs Reality

🎧⁠⁠ ⁠EP1⁠

🎧⁠ ⁠EP2⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠EP3⁠⁠

🎧 ⁠⁠EP4⁠

⁠

Stories Shared

Scott's WTF of the Week🌲 27 Years Alone in the Woods

Shelby’s Good Vibes Only🙅‍♀️ The Woman Who Refused to Conform

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If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we ask you to please consider any or all of these: Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share and leave a short Review? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.

- "Yalla Habibi - Let’s go, my friend!"

Watch Our Shorts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Transcript Keyword Summary

Social Norms, Social Pressure, Conformity, Peer Pressure, Setting Boundaries, Personal Boundaries, Breaking Social Norms, Fear of Judgment, People Pleasing, Self Respect, Authenticity, Living Differently, Family Expectations, Social Expectations, Fitting In, Nonconformity, Relationship Freedom in Modern Relationships, Couple Adventure Travel, Couples Challenging Relationship Expectations, Couples Following Their Own Path in Life, Yalla Habibi, Yalla Habibi Podcast, Couples Podcast, Relationship Podcast

Transcript Quotes

"Going against these social norms isn't about wanting to be different."

"People will naturally create your identity in their head."

"It takes a surprisingly long time with some of them for people to come round to them."

"It gives us more freedom because we're making choices for us."

"I think it definitely gives us more respect for ourselves."

"Just because something is considered normal doesn't mean it has to be normal for you."

"Someone who 1,000% did not commit to social norms or conform to social norms was one of my favorite artists, Frida Kahlo."